The Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 (the Act) was passed on 11 December 2008. The Act promotes responsible pet ownership and gives councils around the state the mandate to enforce the legislation. The Act is being rolled out across Queensland from 1 July 2009.

It is important that pet owners contact their local council for registration details, discounts and fee-free periods.

From 1 July 2009, the following provisions of the Act apply anywhere in Queensland:

• dogs that show menacing behaviour will be able to be classified as 'menacing dogs', a type of regulated dog
• local governments will continue to be responsible for enforcing the regulated dog provisions
• any person microchipping a cat or dog must be authorised through the state government
• companies that store microchip information (called Permanent Identification Device (PID) registries) will need to be registered with the state government
• when a cat or dog is desexed, it will need to have a tattoo to distinguish it as desexed.

What pet owners need to know

From 1 July 2009, cat registration is being introduced for people living in South East Queensland, Gladstone and Central Highlands council districts.

The following councils will introduce cat registration on the following dates:

• Banana Shire Council - 1 March 2010
• Charters Towers Regional Council - 1 July 2010
• Cassowary Coast Regional Council and Tablelands Regional Council - 1 December 2010

Unless they commence on an earlier date, the new cat registration requirements will commence in all other councils on 12 December 2010.

It will be the law to register your cat. Registration helps your council return your cat to you if it is lost. Visit the registering your cat page for more information, and contact your local council for information on how to register, cost, discounts and fee-free periods.

Microchipping cats and dogs is being introduced from 1 July 2009 in South East Queensland, Gladstone and Central Highlands council districts. The following councils will introduce the cat and dog microchipping requirements on the following dates:

• Banana Shire Council - 1 March 2010
• Charters Towers Regional Council - 1 July 2010
• Cassowary Coast Regional Council and Tablelands Regional Council - 1 December 2010

Unless they commence on an earlier date, the cat and dog microchipping requirements will commence in all other councils on 12 December 2010.

Existing pets older than 12 weeks when the microchipping laws are introduced do not have to be microchipped, although it is recommended. 

There are three cases when microchipping your cat or dog is mandatory: